Friday

American Judge Rules Against President-Elect Donald Trump

U.S. Federal judge, Gonzalo Curiel, on Thursday in San Diego,
California, largely sided with plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit
against President-elect Donald Trump over the defunct Trump University,
according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

The case is scheduled to go to trial later this month and Trump is
expected to testify in his own defence against allegations that Trump
University for-profit business seminars were a hoax and hundreds of
individuals were charged large sums of money for courses that were
essentially worthless.

Judge Curiel ruled against Trump’s legal team seeking to ban testimony
relating to Trump’s conduct during the presidential campaign.

Mr. Curiel also ruled against Trump’s request to ban testimony about
Trump University’s “F” rating by the Better Business Bureau and the fact
that it has since gone bankrupt.

He also denied a request by Trump’s lawyers to ban discussion of the
financial condition of students, many of whom described themselves as
poor, and what impact the seminar fees had on their lives.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued testimony about the presidential campaign,
and testimony about the other elements of the case are irrelevant and
would serve to colour the jury’s opinion of Mr. Trump and his business
venture.

Mr. Curiel ruled in favour of allowing Trump’s defence team to call
students who would tell “success stories” about how the courses improved
their understanding of business and real estate.

Mr. Trump has steadfastly defended Trump University as a worthwhile
investment for participants. The courses promised to offer students
inside information on how he built his business.

In a technical ruling, Mr. Curiel found insufficient evidence or
supporting case law to warrant granting Mr. Trump’s other requests,
though he said Mr. Trump’s lawyers could object to individual pieces of
testimony during the trial.